Scandinavia [antikvár]

Introduction In recent years our attention has been so often fixed on crises in Berlin or the Congo or South Vietnam that the countries of Scandinavia have not received the attentive recognition commensurate with their remarkable accomplishments. These peaceful, strong, prosperous nations offer great beauty and a persuasive good sense. It is worthwhile, therefore, that Hammond Innes and the Editors of Life have given us a book that contains generous quantities of both. The Scandinavian countries are no longer among the great powers of the world, but their economic strength, their sense of international responsibility, their efficiency and their adherence to the ideals of democratic society give them an influence—a deserved influence—far beyond their size. The three northern bastions of the free world —Norway, Sweden and Denmark—own more than 10 per cent of the world's shipping and command almost 5 per cent of international trade. Yet they have less than 1 per cent of the world's people. But from these few have come giants in the arts and sciences, and giants, too, in the quest for peace and international cooperation. For who would care to guess what would have become of the United Nations had there been no Trygve Lie and no Dag Ham-marskjold? There is so much in Scandinavia to appreciate, enjoy and even copy; the prose of Mr. Innes and the pictorial essays which accompany it make this volume an excellent introduction to aU three kingdoms. W. Walton Butterworth former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden